"We have 12 points - that is what we wanted, so I have to be satisfied," Löw told the media after the match. "We achieved what we wanted to do, but obviously some errors occurred.""What the team managed to achieve this year has been great, I can't expect them to be brilliant every game. "We have a lead at the top and that is comfortable, but we still need to win a few games before we can plan for the finals."

"We achieved our goal against opponents who made life difficult through their athleticism and discipline," Löw told German television."I expected this sort of match from the Kazakhs. We made quite a few errors but that was a problem of adaptation to the pitch with its articifial grass. We have 12 points and we are in a good place. I cannot ask for more.""We are all the more comfortable after the surprise loss for the Turks - but we still must win more matches before we can go to Euro 2012."

Löw: "Haben enorm viel geleistet" - in an interview with dfb.de, Jogi spoke of taking a 'big step' towards Euro 2012, that they still need to win some more games, but can be confident with four wins out of four. He also spoke of the surprise result with Azerbaijan beating Turkey, and that it was a good result for former Bundestrainer Berti Vogts.He said that his team certainly never underestimated their opponents Kazakhstan, and that considering the unfamiliar surface and time difference, they had done 'pretty well'.

"If everything goes well and according to our plan, Mesut will be able to train on Monday evening and then will be fit to play," Löw said."We have enough quality to replace any player," said Löw, who warned that Kazakhstan would be no pushovers.We are expecting a very tough match. The Kazakhs are much better than (group rivals) Azerbaijan. We have to be on guard because we will have a lot of work to do."

(on Mesut Özil's injury doubts) "I'm convinced that we can also surmount this hurdle,' Löw said Sunday in Berlin."If everything goes as it should then I expect to name the same team," said Löw, who will make a decision on Özil's fitness 24 hours before kick-off."I also have Toni Kroos, Cacau or Marko Marin to play in Özil's position," he added.Löw's only other injury concern is over replacement defender Jerome Boateng. The Manchester City star is struggling with a stomach problem and might not fly out with the squad on Monday if he fails to recover in time."If we have 12 points after this game in Kazakhstan on Tuesday then I'll be completely happy," (on missing key players) "We have the quality to replace these players for the occasional games," The match against Kazakhstan will be played on an artificial surface, something Löw feels his team have the ability have to adapt to."We are going to have to deal with the situation. We haven't reached our target yet."

Speaking of the artificial surface the German side will face, Jogi reminded the press that many of the side had faced a similar surface, (in Russia in 2009), but that the team only have today to get used to it, and whilst not easy, they will manage it.On a personal basis Jogi spoke the recovery time after the World Cup, not just the tournament itself but the year of preparation beforehand. He said this took a time of around six weeks, and that when September arrived he was fully motivated and excited. "I had no energy problems" he said.

Germany's Mesut Ozil will undergo a last-minute test on an ankle injury before the World Cup semi-finalists take on Kazakhstan in their Euro 2012 qualifier on Tuesday, the national federation said."National coach Joachim Löw has arranged with the doctors and physical trainers to give him a fitness test in the final training session on Monday," the DFB said in a statement. from AFP, - 9 October 2010

For articles on squad selection for the October 2010 Euro 2012 qualifiers against Turkey and Kazakhstan, see my Turkey page.

With thanks to everyone at the Group, especially Nicole, Silke, Lucille, Paula and Sanni - for the wonderful pun!

Last updated 28 December 2013Anything else you think I should include on this page? Let me know!